Windown Covering cords Guidelines

OMB Control Number 3041-0029

Investigation Guideline
Product: Window Covering Cords
Appendix # : 136
Revision: October 2008
Update: October 2008
I. Introduction
A. Background
From 1990 to 2007, CPSC received reports of 217 strangulations (approximately 12 deaths annually)
involving cords on window blinds. The strangulation victims ranged in age from 7 months to 8 years
old. The majority of the strangulations involved the operating cords of horizontal blinds, the inner cords
of horizontal blinds, and the operating cords of vertical blinds.
Strangulation occurs when the victim places his or her head in a loop in the cord of the window blind
product and becomes fully suspended in a hang as shown in Figure 1 or partially suspended in a hang as
shown in Figure 2.

Figure 1. Strangulation in tassel loop.
Figure 2. Strangulation in continuous cord loop.
As seen in the above figures, a strangulation hazard exists whenever the window blind cord is
configured as a loop. This can occur due to the design of the product (such as continuous cords found
on vertical blinds), through manipulation of the product cord (such as loops formed by pulling down on
the inner cords of horizontal blinds), or through modification of the product cords by the consumer (such
as loops formed by tying separate cords into one knot).
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Past investigations have identified the following strangulation scenarios:

1. Victim strangled
in a continuous
loop, usually the
cord or chain of a
vertical blind.
Continuous loops
are also found on
some horizontal
blinds.

TYPICAL VERTICAL BLIND

2. Victim strangled
in a loop formed by
multiple cords
terminating in a
single tassel.
Usually involved
the operating
cords of a
horizontal blind.
TYPICAL HORIZONTAL BLIND

3. Victim strangled
in a loop formed by
pulling out the
inner cord of a
horizontal blind.

TYPICAL HORIZONTAL BLIND

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4. Victim strangled
in a loop formed by
tying multiple
cords into a knot.

TYPICAL HORIZONTAL BLIND

5. Victim strangled
in a cord (or cords)
that was wrapped
around the neck.
TYPICAL HORIZONTAL BLIND

B. Product Description and Hazard
Window blinds vary in design type and operation, and therefore have different cord strangulation
hazards. The operating system determines how the window blind is raised/lowered and what types of
cord hazards are present in the different cord configurations.
The three main operating systems for window blinds are:
1. Conventional Cord Lift
2. Continuous Loop Control
3. Cord Loop Lift

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1. Conventional Cord Lift System
Description
Conventional cord lift systems are most often used on horizontal/Venetian blinds (see Figure 3),
pleated/cellular shades, and roman shades.
The conventional cord lift operating system raises and lowers horizontal products using two or more
cords that hang from the head rail of the blind. A locking mechanism in the head rail holds the blind in
the raised position at any point along its length. The cords enter the head rail through the locking
mechanism, then pass through the blind slats or fabric, and attach to the bottom rail. Cords that run
through the slats are referred to as inner cords. The same cords on the other side of the head rail that are
pulled to raise the blinds are called operating cords.

Figure 3. Typical Horizontal Blind With Conventional Cord Lift System
Hazards
The hazards associated with the operating cord of conventional cord lift systems are strangulation in:
•
•
•
•

loops formed by two or more operating cords ending in a single tassel,
loops formed by knots tied in two or more operating cords,
loops formed by two or more operating cords tangling into a knot, and
loops formed by tying an operating cord to an object such as a bed post or a cleat in the wall.

4

The hazard associated with the inner cord of conventional cord lift systems is strangulation in a loop
formed by pulling down on the inner cord. A loop can also be formed by pulling up on the inner cord
(and pulling the bottom rail up), but the majority of incidents involved strangulation in a loop formed by
a downward pull on the inner cord as shown in Figure 4.

Figure 4. Inner Cord Loop Formed By Pulling Down On Cord
The inner cords of roman shades (see Figures 5 and 6) are particularly accessible because the cords run
through rings or slots in the back of the shade that are spaced fairly wide apart (typically 8 inches) as
shown in Figure 6. This large spacing creates the potential for a child to place his/her neck in the length
of cord between the rings. Furthermore, some roman shades do not use a head rail with a locking
mechanism to limit the movement of the operating cords, increasing the ease with which a loop can be
formed by pulling down on the inner cord.

Figure 5. Typical Roman Shade (Front)

Figure 6. Hazards on Backside of Roman Shade
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Safety Devices
Since 1996, conventional cord lift systems have been manufactured with a separate tassel at the end of
each cord, or with two cords ending in a break away tassel that’s designed to break apart if a child places
his/her head in the tassel loop (see Figure 7). This safety strategy does not address consumers tying
knots in the cords or tying the cords to an object.

Figure 7. Typical Break Away Tassel
Since 2001, conventional cord lift systems have been manufactured with inner cord stops (most often
plastic donuts attached to the operating cords) to physically block the inner cord from being pulled out
to form a loop (see Figures 8 and 9). The donuts are only effective if they are positioned less than 6
inches from the head rail. This safety strategy depends on the consumer to actively position the inner
cord stops at the correct distance from the head rail. This safety strategy does not address the hazard
posed by exposed inner cords on roman shades.

Figure 8. Horizontal Blind with Inner Cord Stop

Figure 9. Close-up of Inner Cord Stop

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2. Continuous Loop Control
Description
Continuous loop control systems are most often used on vertical blinds (see Figure 10), drapes, and
some horizontal type blinds such as roller shades.
A continuous loop control system consists of a head rail mechanism that is controlled by a continuous
cord loop or bead chain loop. The mechanism in the head rail can move vertical coverings side to side
(vertical blinds or drapes), rotate blind vanes open/closed (vanes of vertical blinds and horizontal
blinds), or raise and lower horizontal coverings (roller shades).

Figure 10. Typical Vertical Blind With Continuous Loop Control System
Hazards
The hazard associated with continuous loop control systems is strangulation in the free standing (not
attached to the wall) continuous loop. Sometimes the consumer will also tie knots in the continuous
loop cord.
Safety Devices
Since 1996, continuous loop control systems have been manufactured with a tension device attached to
the continuous cord (see Figure 11). The consumer must mount the device to the floor or wall so that
the cord loop is too taut for a child to place his/her neck in the loop. This safety strategy depends on the
consumer to actively install the tension device at the correct distance from the head rail.

Figure 11 Typical Tension Device
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In 2002, CPSC staff and industry members reviewed fatal blind cord IDIs and concluded that all of the
fatal incidents associated with continuous loop control systems could have been prevented if a tension
device were properly used.
In 2007, the voluntary standard for blind cords was modified to require that continuous loop control
systems be manufactured to be inoperable if the continuous cord loop is not tied down with a tension
device. Although the voluntary standard was published in May 2007, manufacturers have not begun to
meet this requirement.
3. Cord Loop Lift Systems
Description
Cord loop lift systems are used on roll-up blinds (see Figure 12).
Roll-up blinds consist of some type of flexible material that is rolled up and suspended by two cord
loops (called the lifting loops). When the lifting loop cords are pulled, the loops rise, causing the
flexible material to roll-up from the bottom of the blind. The cords that loop around the rolled window
covering are referred to as the inner cords. The same cords on the other side of the head rail that are
pulled to raise the roll-up blind are called operating cords.

Figure 12. Typical Roll-up Blind With Cord Loop Lift System

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Hazards
The hazards associated with the operating cord of cord loop lift systems are strangulation in:
• loops formed by two or more operating cords ending in a single tassel,
• loops formed by knots tied in two or more operating cords,
• loops formed by two or more operating cords tangling into a knot, and
• loops formed by tying an operating cord to an object such as a bed post or a cleat in the wall.
•
The hazards associated with the inner cord of cord loop lift systems are strangulation in:
•
•

a free standing loop when the inner cord is pull off the side of the roll-up blind and
strangulation in the loop that lifts the rolled up blind.

Safety Devices
Since 1996, cord loop lift systems have been manufactured with a separate tassel at the end of each cord,
or with two cords ending in a break away tassel that’s designed to break apart if a child places his/her
head in the tassel loop. This safety strategy does not address consumers tying knots in the cords or tying
the cords to an object.
Recently, some manufacturers have designed break away devices in the head rail of the roll-up blind that
are intended to break away if a child places his/her neck in the loop that lifts the rolled up blind.
Requirements for these devices have not been formalized in the voluntary standard.

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B. Voluntary Standard
The voluntary standard for window blinds is ANSI/WCMA A.100.1 American National Standard for
Safety of Corded Window Covering Products. The standard was developed in 1996, revised in 2001,
and revised again in 2007.
The voluntary standard requires safety devices on window covering cords that prevent access to a cord
loop, prevent formation of a cord loop, or remove a cord loop before injury can occur. The safety
devices depend on the type of window covering/cord system used and are summarized as follows:

Typical Horizontal Blind

Typical Vertical Blind
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Blind Type

Component

Requirement

Description

separate cords with separate
tassels to avoid the formation of
a loop...or

break away tassel in loop to
remove a cord loop before injury
can occur; the break away device
can also be in the head rail but
none are currently on the
market...or

Operating Cord

cord retraction device to roll up
the operating cord and prevent
access to a cord loop...or

Horizontal Blind
cord shear device to remove a
cord loop before injury can
occur...or

[or any product with a
conventional cord lift
system]

there are no current products on the
market but in theory the device
would wind up the operating cord to
within 6 inches of the head rail
there are no current products on the
market but in theory the device
would cut the cord loop when a child
places his/her neck in the loop

cord connector that combines
multiple cords to a connector
with a single pull cord beneath,
the connector must be less than 3
inches from the head rail when
the blind is fully lowered

Inner Cord

Vertical Blind
[or any product with a
Operating Cord
continuous loop control
system]

inner cord stop that prevents
inner cord from being pulled out
to form a loop; inner cord stop
must be located less than 6
inches from the head rail; a
mechanism in the head rail can
also be used to prevent the inner
cord from being pulled but none
are currently on the market
tension device must be attached
to continuous cord loop or chain;
latest 2007 revision requires that
the blind be inoperable if the
tension device is not installed to
the floor or wall

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C. Specific Items of Interest
Incidents involving window covering cords require information on what type of window covering was
involved, what type of operating system the product used, which specific part of the cord was involved,
how the loop was formed, how the cord was found around victim, year of manufacture of the product,
and product conformance to the voluntary standard.
D. Headquarters Contacts
Renae Rauchschwalbe (Office of Compliance)
Caroleene Paul (Division of Mechanical Engineering)

301-504-7664
301-504-7540

II. Instructions for Collecting Specific Information
A. Synopsis
Provide a complete and concise account of the incident including the product(s) involved, what part of
the product was involved, who was injured, what the injury was, where the incident occurred, and the
severity of the injury.
B. Description of the Product (see Appendix A Worksheet)
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•

•
•
•

What type of window covering was involved?
Manufacturer and model of product. (information sometimes found inside head rail of product)
Age of window covering product. When was it purchased? Manufacture date.
Was the product used to cover a window or was it used some other way? (e.g. room divider)
What type of operating system did the window covering use?
Was the inner cord or operating cord involved in the incident?
Was there a loop and how was it formed?
What was the length of the loop from the point of suspension?
What was the distance from the standing surface (floor, bed, etc.) to the bottom of the cord loop?
What was the condition of the operating cord? Knotted, tied up, tied to something?
Was the product damaged or modified before the incident? After the incident?
If the product used a conventional cord lift system, were there inner cord stops installed on the
operating cord? If so, how far from the head rail were the inner cord stops located (when the
blind is in fully lowered position)?
If the product used a conventional cord lift system, did the operating cords end in separate tassels
or a break away tassel?
If the product involved a roman shade, did the incident occur in the inner cords that run through
the rings located on the back side of the shade? Did the victim pull down on the inner cord to
form a loop or did the victim place his/her head between the inner cord and rings attached to
shade?
If the product used a continuous cord loop system, was a tension device present on the product’s
cord? If so, was the tension device properly installed to the floor or the wall?
Were any warning hazard labels present on the product at the time of the incident or when the
product was purchased? If yes, did the consumer read and understand the labels?
Copy or photograph the label.
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C. Description of Victim (see Appendix A Worksheet)
•
•
•
•
•

What was the victim’s date of birth and sex?
What was the victim’s height and weight?
Did the victim wrap a single cord around his/her neck or did the victim place a loop over his/her
head?
If the victim was found in a cord loop, was it doubled around his/her neck?
How did the child gain access to the cord? (e.g. climbed on sofa, crib near window, etc.)

D. Description of Accident Environment (see Appendix A Worksheet)
•
•
•
•

Which room of the house did the incident occur? What was the layout?
Was the window covering near furniture or a crib?
What type of window was being covered by the product?
What were the dimensions of the window?

III. Instructions for Photographing and/or Diagramming Incident Scene and Factors Related to
the Accident.
•

•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•

Photograph the whole window covering product involved in the incident (photos of exemplar
products are only marginally useful--they cannot be used to make any determination on how
incident occurred). This may involve photographing the incident sample at the police
department.
Photograph the specific part of the blind involved in the incident (cord, slats, etc.)
Using a doll, photograph how the victim was found and in what part of the blind cord the victim
was found.
Take close-up photographs of blind cord loop (if present).
Take close-up photo of operating cord ends (even if not involved in incident -- this helps us
determine the age of the product and whether or not it meets the standard).
Take close-up photo of cords at head rail. Be sure to include inner cord stops if present.
Take photographs of cord condition -- knots, tangles, tied up to any objects, etc.
Take photograph of any safety devices (tension device, inner cord stops, etc.) that were present.
Take photographs of any warning labels.
Obtain police photos of product and incident area.

IV. Instructions for Obtaining Samples and Documents Related to the Investigation
•
•

•

Obtain police report.
Obtain coroners report, or medical examiner’s report/death certificate.
o Was there a ligature mark around the victim’s neck?
o Describe the ligature mark. Did it encircle the neck or did it run ear to ear under the
chin?
Obtain incident sample or exemplar sample.
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APPENDIX A
WINDOW BLIND CORD INVESTIGATION WORKSHEET

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Window Blind Cord
Investigation Worksheet
Headquarters Contacts:
Renae Rauchschwalbe
Caroleene Paul

301-504-7664
301-504-7540

Description of Product
1.

What type of window blind was involved? (circle one)
Horizontal Blind

Vertical Blind

Pleated/Cellular Shade

Drapes

Roman Shade
Roller Shade

Roll-Up Blind
Other ________________

2.

Manufacturer: ___________________________________________________

3.

Date of manufacture: ______________________________________________

4.

When were blinds purchased? _______________________________________

5.

Where were the blinds purchased? ____________________________________

6.

Who installed the blinds? ___________________________________________

7.

Were the blinds used to cover a window or for some other purpose?
Windows

8.

Room Divider

Other ________________

What type of operating system did the window blind use?
Conventional Cord Lift

9.

Cover Closet

Continuous Cord Lift

Cord Loop Lift

Was the inner cord or operating cord involved in the incident?
Inner Cord

Operating Cord

10. Was a loop in the blind cord involved?
Yes
11.

No

How was the loop formed?
Part Of Product Design

Inner Cord Pulled Out

Operating Cord Tangled Or Knotted

Other ______________________________________
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12.

What was the length of the loop?
Please write the length in the diagram.

13.

What was the distance from the standing surface (floor, bed, sofa, etc.) to the bottom of the cord
loop? Please write in the distance in the diagram below. (Diagram shows a vertical blind.)

14.

What was the condition of the operating cord, even if not involved in the incident?
Unmodified

15.

Other ______________________________

Yes, explain __________________

Was the product damaged or modified after the incident?
No

17.

Tangled

Was the product damaged or modified before the incident?
No

16.

Knotted

Yes, explain __________________

If the blinds used a conventional cord lift system, were the inner cord stops installed on the
operating cord?
Yes
No

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18.

If inner cord stops were installed, how far from the head rail were the inner cord stops located
when the blind is in the fully lowered position? Please write the distance in the diagram below.

19.

If the blinds used a conventional cord lift system, did the operating cords end in a single tassel,
separate tassels, or a single break away tassel?
Single Tassel

20.

Breakaway Tassel

What was the position of the blinds at the time of the incident?
Fully Raised

21.

Separate Tassels

Fully Lowered

Partially Raised/Lowered

If the blinds involved were a Roman Shade, did the incident occur in the operating cords or the
inner cords on the back side of the shade?
Operating Cords

Front of Roman Shade

Inner Cords (Backside)

Back of Roman Shade

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22.

If the blinds involved the inner cords of a Roman Shade, did the incident occur in a loop formed by
the victim pulling down on the inner cord or did the victim place his/her head between the inner
cord and the rings attached to the shade (see Figure above)?
Pulled Down on Inner Cord

23.

If the blinds used a continuous cord loop system, was a tension device present on the continuous
cord? (see Figure below in Question 24)
Yes

24.

Placed Head Between Inner Cord and Ring

No

If a tension device was present, was it installed to the floor or wall so that the cord is taut?

Tension Device
25. Who installed the tension device?
Professional Installer
26.

Consumer

Other ___________________________

Were any warning labels present on the product at the time of the incident? Were any warning
hang tags present on the product at time of purchase?
Yes

No

Example of Warning Label

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27.

Did the consumer read and understand the warnings?
Yes

No

Comments ________________________________________

Description of Victim
28.

What was the victim’s date of birth? _______________________

29.

What was the victim’s sex?

30.

What was the victim’s height and weight?

31.

Did the victim wrap a single cord around his/her neck or did the victim place a cord loop over
his/her head?
Single Cord

32.

M

weight = __________

Was the cord loop wrapped around the victim’s neck more than once or was it a straight hang on
the victim’s neck?
Straight Hang

Was there a ligature mark around the victim’s neck? (May need to reference coroner’s report)
Yes

34.

height = __________

Cord Loop

Wrapped Around Neck
33.

F

No

Did the ligature mark encircle the neck or did it run ear to ear under the chin?
Encircled Neck

Ear to Ear

Other __________________________

Description of Accident Scene
35.

In what type of dwelling did the incident occur?
Single Family Home

Townhouse

Apartment

Mobile Home

Other ______________________________
36.

Did the incident occur in a home daycare facility?
Yes

No

37. Which room in the house did the incident take place?

_______________________________

38. What type of window was covered by the product? __________________________________

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39.

What were the dimensions of the window?
length = __________inches

40.

height = __________inches

width = __________

How did the victim access the window covering cord?
________________________________________________________________________

41.

Was the window blind near furniture or a crib?

Yes

No

42.

If the window blind was near furniture or a crib, what was the distance from the blinds to the
furniture or the distance from the blinds to the cribs? Please write in the distance in the diagram
below.

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